Cocoa sector set for latest World Cocoa Foundation partnership Brazilian meeting
A major meeting of the cocoa sector is set for São Paulo, Brazil, will become the focus of the global cocoa and chocolate sector as the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) convenes its annual Partnership Meeting.
From 19-20 March 2025, more than 400 stakeholders from over 40 countries—representing the entire cocoa supply chain—will gather to tackle the urgent challenges facing the sector. With the theme “Our Future: Resilience Through Sustainability” this premier event promises dynamic discussions and actionable insights.
The cocoa sector faces formidable challenges: climate change, disease, declining productivity, evolving regulation, supply deficits and market volatility. Against this backdrop, the WCF Partnership Meeting will highlight the pressing need for sustainable practices to develop resilience—both individual and collective—and ensure the future of cocoa farming and the broader industry. These themes will resonate prominently in the broader global discourse on climate action, including those expected at COP30 in Belém, Brazil later this year.
“Given the challenges and the pace of the changes reshaping the global cocoa sector, this is a pivotal moment to bring leaders together to discuss and find common solutions,” said Chris Vincent, President of the WCF. “We are thrilled to host this year’s event in Brazil, a country uniquely positioned to inspire new ideas, foster South-South exchanges and showcase innovations in sustainable agriculture.”
A Global South-South Exchange: The meeting’s location in Brazil offers a unique platform for sharing expertise between cocoa-producing nations worldwide and Brazil’s diverse agricultural systems. Delegates, including cocoa farmers, will explore innovative practices employed by smallholders and large-scale mechanised producers. There will also be the opportunity to participate in post-meeting field visits and connect directly with Brazilian cocoa growers.
Influential Voices – key speakers include:
Vinicius Ahmar, Bioeconomy Manager, Arapyaú Institute
Michel Arrion, Executive Director, International Cocoa Organization
Eduardo Bastos, Executive Director, Brazilian Agribusiness Association (ABAG)
Marcello Brito, Executive Secretary, Legal Amazon Consortium of States
Sarah Dekkiche, Director of Policy and Partnerships, International Cocoa Initiative (ICI)
Michael Ekow Amoah, Deputy Director Research and Development, Ghana Cocoa Board
Santiago Gowland, CEO, Rainforest Alliance
Anna Paula Losi, Executive President, Brazilian Association of Cocoa Processing Industries
Jaime Recena, Executive President, Brazilian Association of Chocolate, Confectionery, and Peanut Industries (ABICAB)
Aldo Soto, Co-founder, Amazonia Impact Ventures
These thought leaders will engage in robust discussions on issues shaping the cocoa sector’s future, such as supply chain transformation, impact investment models and regulatory challenges. A full list of confirmed speakers is available on WCF’s website.
Marcello Brito, Executive Secretary, Legal Amazon Consortium of States, who will make an address on macroeconomic impacts on commodity markets, noted: “I’m excited to engage with stakeholders from across the globe. This is an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration between cocoa countries, in Latin America, West Africa and Asia, to explore opportunities and build an aligned agenda to address common challenges, especially those related to climate, forest conservation, farmer income and human rights.”